Evaporative fluid cooling apparatuses and methods thereof

ABSTRACT

An evaporative fluid cooling apparatus includes a cooling housing, at least two fluid coils, an air movement apparatus, and one or more spray apparatuses. The cooling housing defines a cooling chamber with an air housing input and an air housing output. The fluid coils are positioned in and extend across at least a portion of the cooling chamber in a spaced apart stacked arrangement. One of the fluid coils is positioned closer to the air housing output and has a first fluid input configured to be coupled to a fluid return from one or more air handler devices and a first fluid output coupled to a second fluid input to the other fluid coil. The other fluid coil is positioned closer to the air housing input and has a second fluid output configured to be coupled to a fluid supply to the air handler devices.

This application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/997,057, filed Jan. 15, 2016, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

This technology relates to evaporative fluid cooling apparatuses andmethods thereof.

BACKGROUND

Currently, prior cooling systems in most commercial and data centeroperations operate with standard flow rates for water as high as over300 gallons per minute (GPM). Unfortunately, moving this water throughthese prior cooling systems at these high flow rates does not allow forthe absorption of much heat by each gallon of water resulting in only asmall difference between the temperature of the water entering andleaving these prior cooling systems resulting in low delta T syndrome.Typically, with low delta T syndrome the flow rate or gallons per minuteis high and the temperature difference is low between about ten totwelve degrees and in reality often between about two and ten degrees.As a result of these design issues, these prior cooling systems oftenwork acceptably, but require very significant amounts of energy andmaintenance.

To address this issue, prior solutions have tried various combinationsof increasing the flow and/or adding more cooling towers. Unfortunately,increasing the flow may again have a negative impact on the amount oftemperature drop or delta T which is attainable and thus is not a viablesolution. Further, the addition of more cooling towers, related piping,and pumps adds further expense and takes up a greater amount of space,none of which is desirable.

SUMMARY

An evaporative fluid cooling apparatus includes a cooling housing, atleast two fluid coils, an air movement apparatus, and one or more sprayapparatuses. The cooling housing defines a cooling chamber with an airhousing input and an air housing output. At least two fluid coils arepositioned in and extend across at least a portion of the coolingchamber in a spaced apart stacked arrangement. One of the fluid coils ispositioned closer to the air housing output having a first fluid inputconfigured to be coupled to a fluid return from one or more air handlerdevices and a first fluid output coupled to a second fluid input to theother one of the fluid coils. The other one of the fluid coils ispositioned closer to the air housing input and has a second fluid outputconfigured to be coupled to a fluid supply to the one or more airhandler devices. The air movement apparatus is positioned to provide airflow from the air housing input through the cooling chamber and out theair housing output when activated. The one or more spray apparatuses arepositioned and configured to spray a fluid on at least one of the atleast two fluid coils when activated.

A method for making an evaporative fluid cooling apparatus includesproviding a cooling housing that defines a cooling chamber with an airhousing input and an air housing output. At least two fluid coils arepositioned to extend across at least a portion of the cooling chamber ina spaced apart stacked arrangement. One of the fluid coils is positionedcloser to the air housing output and has a first fluid input configuredto be coupled to a fluid return from one or more air handler devices anda first fluid output coupled to a second fluid input to the other one ofthe fluid coils. The other one of the fluid coils is positioned closerto the air housing input with the other one of the fluid coils having asecond fluid output configured to be coupled to a fluid supply to theone or more air handler devices. An air movement apparatus is positionedto provide air flow from the air housing input through the coolingchamber and out the air housing output when activated. One or more sprayapparatuses are positioned and configured to spray a fluid on at leastone of the at least two fluid coils when activated.

This technology provides a number of advantages including providing moreeffective and efficient evaporative fluid cooling apparatuses andmethods. In particular, this technology provides evaporative fluidcooling apparatuses which are able to achieve a high delta T and a lowflow rate, i.e. gallons per minute (GPM), that are able to easily avoidlow delta syndrome. By way of example, this technology can provide ahigh delta T of between twenty degrees to forty-five degrees and also alow flow rate or gallons per minute. Additionally, with this high deltaT and a low flow rate design, this technology is able to provide asignificant reduction, i.e. often in excess of 50%, in the size and costof piping and other parts when compared against prior cooling systems.Further, with this high delta T and a low flow rate design, thistechnology is able to output pure, non-saturated air and is able toutilize sprayer water that is chemical free. This technology also allowsfor a unique phased in integration of the compressor chiller that allowthat compression chiller to operate at a greatly reduced lift comparedto prior designs thereby lowering kW/ ton relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an example of an environmentwith an example of an evaporative fluid cooling apparatus with arefrigerant coil;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of the compressor chillerillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of an evaporative coolermanagement computing device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an example of operating theevaporative fluid cooling apparatus with the refrigerant coilillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is functional block diagram of an example of another evaporativefluid cooling apparatus with a split fluid coil and housing; and

FIG. 6 is functional block diagram of an example of yet anotherevaporative fluid cooling apparatus with a dual split fluid coil andhousing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An environment 10 with an example of an evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(1), air handler 32, and heat source 40, such as a buildingby way of example only, is illustrated in FIG. 1. In this particularexample, the evaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(1) includes acooling housing 14, at least two fluid coils 16(1)-16(2), an optionalrefrigerant coil 18, a sprayer apparatus 20, an air movement apparatus22, an optional compressor chiller 24, and evaporative cooler managementcomputing device 60, although the apparatus could include other typesand numbers of systems, devices, components, and/or other elements inother configurations, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 by wayof example only. This technology provides a number of advantagesincluding providing more effective and efficient evaporative fluidcooling apparatuses and methods.

The cooling housing 14 has side walls which define a cooling chamber 17having air input 23 and an air output 25 and provides a supportingstructure for the fluid coils 16(1)-16(2), the optional refrigerant coil18, the sprayer apparatus 20, the air movement apparatus 22, theoptional compressor chiller 24, the collection device 37, and theevaporative cooler management computing device 60 of the evaporativefluid cooling apparatus 12(1), although the housing 14 could have otherconfigurations and could provide a supporting structure for other typesand/or numbers of other systems, devices, components, and/or otherelements.

The cooling housing 14 may also optionally include one or morecontrollable vents or louvers 26 along one or more side surfaces of thecooling housing 14, although the housing 14 could provide other typesand/or numbers of adjustable access points. In this particular example,the controllable vents or louvers 26 are each constructed to at leasthave a closed position to seal a corresponding opening in the coolinghousing 14 and an open position which can be managed by the controller.In the open position, the vents or louvers 26 provide a passage to allowthe introduction of fresh, cool and dryer outside air to enter thecooling chamber 17 and pass between one or more of the fluid coils16(1)-16(2) and/or the optional refrigerant coil 18 to increase the freecooling effects, further reducing the need to engage and also thepossible load on the compressor chiller 24 when engaged.

Each of the controllable vents or louvers 26 may have a controllercomprising a processor, a memory, a communication interface which arecoupled together by a bus or other communication link, although othertypes and/or numbers of other systems, device, components, and/or otherelements in other configurations could be used and/or other approachesfor managing the operation of the controllable vents or louvers 26 maybe used. Each of the controllers in the controllable vents or louvers 26may be coupled to receive, respond to and/or execute instructions fromthe evaporative cooler management computing device 60 to move thecontrollable vents or louvers 26 between open and closed positions usingone or more electromechanical control devices, although the operation ofthe controllable vents or louvers 26 may be managed in other manners,such as manually by way of example only, and may be configured toperform other types and/or numbers of other operations.

The fluid coils 16(1)-16(2) each comprise heat transfer working fluidconduits with one of the fluid coils 16(1) having an input that isconfigured to be coupled to a return of cooling fluid, an output of thefluid coil 16(1) is coupled to an input of the fluid coil 16(2),although other types and/or numbers of fluid coils in otherconfigurations may be used. The fluid coil 16(1) which receives theinitial return of the heated fluid from the air handler 32 is located inthe cooling housing 14 adjacent the air output 25. The fluid coil 16(2)which receives the fluid from the fluid coil 16(1) is located adjacentthe air inputs 23 in the cooling housing 14. Accordingly, with thisconfiguration to receive fluid in the fluid coil 16(1) adjacent the airoutput 25 of the cooling housing 14 and then to further cool and returnfluid to the fluid coil 16(2) adjacent the air input 23 of the coolinghousing 14 is in an inverse with respect to the absorption of heat fromthe fluid in the fluid coils 16(1)-16(2) in the cooling housing 14 basedon a direction of air flow from the one or more air inputs 23 to the airoutput 25. As a result, with this configuration heated fluid from theair handler 32 may now be transported to the fluid coils 16(1)-16(2) inthe evaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(1) at lower volumes thanpossible with prior designs because the heated fluid carries more heatenergy per unit volume.

In particular, with this example when the heated fluid enters the fluidcoil 16(1) adjacent the air output 25 of the cooling housing 14, theheated fluid in the fluid coil 16(1) will be exposed to cool wet airthat has already been cooled and supersaturated by the second coil 16(2)adjacent the air inputs 23 and through evaporative cooling of spraywater from the sprayer apparatus 20 to nearly the wet bulb temperaturein the atmosphere. When the cool wet air hits the fluid coil 16(1), itabsorbs heat, and by the time it exits the cooling housing 14 at the airoutput 25, it is at or warm enough that it has more than enough spacefor the water it has absorbed and also eliminates plumes. At the sametime the fluid in the fluid coil 16(1) is cooled, so that by the time itenters the fluid coil 16(2) less cooling is required to reach nearly thewet bulb temperature. As a result, this example of the technologyessentially provides free cooling all the way up to a wet bulb of about60 degrees Fahrenheit or an ambient temperature of about 80 degreeswithout needing to engage the compressor chiller 24 and also providesother benefits, such as substantial savings in energy, a high delta Tand a low required flow rate for the fluid from the air handler 32 byway of example.

An example of the benefits of this high delta T and low flow rate designwith this technology resulting in reduced requirements for the fluidcoils 16(1)-16(2) and related piping is set forth below. Again as notedearlier, this technology is able to utilize a high delta T of betweentwenty degrees to forty-five degrees and also a low flow rate or gallonsper minute. Additionally, the formula for calculating a ton is(GPM×8.33)×Delta T=BTU. Accordingly, assuming a delta T of thirty fivedegrees, an example of the decrease in flow requirements is set forthbelow:

(100 GPM×8.33)×10=8,330 BTU

(50 GPM×8.33)×35=14,577 BTU

As illustrated above, the lower GPM with the higher delta T, e.g.thirty-five degrees in this example, in accordance with an example ofthis technology when compared against a prior cooling system with a lowdelta T of ten which is typical for prior systems has the higher BTU.Accordingly, by using this technology a significant reduction in sizeand cost, i.e. purchase and installation, as well as a reduction intonnage demands on the chiller can be achieved.

A fluid pump 35 may be coupled to the piping to the fluid coil 16(1),although the fluid pump may be in other locations and other types and/ornumbers of fluid movement devices maybe used. The fluid pump 35 may havea controller comprising a processor, a memory, a communication interfacewhich are coupled together by a bus or other communication link,although other types and/or numbers of other systems, device,components, and/or other elements in other configurations could be usedand/or other approaches for managing the operation of the fluid pump 34may be used. The controller in the fluid pump 35 may be coupled toreceive, respond to and/or execute instructions from the evaporativecooler management computing device 60 to manage the engagement of andrate of pumping of the cooling fluid through the loop from the fluidcoils 16(1)-16(2) and out to the air handler 32 and back, although theoperation of the fluid pump 35 may be managed in other manners, such asmanually by way of example only and may be configured to perform othertypes and/or numbers of other operations.

With this low flow rate design, this technology is able to utilize amuch smaller, less expensive, and more energy efficient fluid pump 35than possible with prior evaporative cooling system. Additionally, withthis low flow rate design this technology is able to use much thinnerfluid coils 16(1)-16(2) and connecting pipes than prior coolingevaporative fluid cooling systems which provides a significant reductionin size and cost. Further, the ability to use much thinner fluid coils16(1)-16(2) with this technology when compared to prior cooling systemsenables air to more easily flow from the air inputs 23 through the fluidcoils 16(1)-16(2) in the cooling chamber 17 to the air output 25reducing the size and required power for the air movement apparatus 22.

The optional refrigerant coil 18 comprises another heat transfer conduitand has an input that is configured to be coupled to a return from arefrigerant system 30 and an output that is configured to be coupled toa supply from the refrigerant system 30, although other types and/ornumbers of refrigerant coils coupled to other types and/or numbers ofsources could be used. In this particular example, the refrigerantsystem 30 is positioned in the air handler 32 to remove a significantamount of heat prior to the air reaching a heat exchanger 28 in the airhandler 32, to provide additional cooling.

A refrigerant pump 34 may be coupled to the piping between the optionalrefrigerant coil 18 and the refrigerant system 30, although therefrigerant pump 34 may be in other locations and other types and/ornumbers of fluid movement devices maybe used. In this particularexample, the refrigerant pump 34 is a frictionless magnetic bearingstype pump which as result is oil free and thus more efficient and lowermaintenance, although other types of pumps could be used, such as a pumpwith sealed bearings unit that does not require oil in the refrigerant.Using an oil free refrigerant pump 34 provides advantages because oil isan insulator and as result does not take heat, but does take up volumewhich greatly reducing the efficiency of the refrigerant fluid,increasing efficiency by up to 20%.

The refrigerant pump 34 may have a controller comprising a processor, amemory, a communication interface which are coupled together by a bus orother communication link, although other types and/or numbers of othersystems, device, components, and/or other elements in otherconfigurations could be used and/or other approaches for managing theoperation of the refrigerant pump 34 may be used. The controller in therefrigerant pump 34 may be coupled to receive, respond to and/or executeinstructions from the evaporative cooler management computing device 60to manage the engagement of and rate of pumping of the refrigerant fluidthrough the loop from between the optional refrigerant coil 18 and therefrigerant system 30, although the operation of the refrigerant pump 34may be managed in other manners, such as manually by way of example onlyand may be configured to perform other types and/or numbers of otheroperations.

The sprayer apparatus 20 may include a sprayer pump 36 with a controller, piping, and a plurality of nozzles oriented to spray a fluid, such aswater by way of example only, on and positioned above the fluid coil16(2) and below the optional refrigerant coil 18 and the fluid coil16(2) to cool the air in the cooling chamber 17 via evaporative cooling,although the sprayer apparatus 20 could be positioned in other locationsand/or to spray on other devices, such as the fluid coil 16(1) by way ofexample only. Any non-evaporated water or other fluid that was sprayeddrips down into a collection device 37 and may be pumped by the sprayerpump 36 back to the nozzles until evaporated.

The sprayer pump 36 may have a controller comprising a processor, amemory, a communication interface which are coupled together by a bus orother communication link, although other types and/or numbers of othersystems, device, components, and/or other elements in otherconfigurations could be used and/or other approaches for managing theoperation of the sprayer pump 36 may be used. The controller in thesprayer pump 36 may be coupled to receive, respond to and/or executeinstructions from the evaporative cooler management computing device 60to manage the engagement of and rate of pumping of the spray fluidthrough the loop from between the sprayer apparatus 20 and thecollection device 37, although the operation of the sprayer pump 36 maybe managed in other manners, such as manually by way of example only andmay be configured to perform other types and/or numbers of otheroperations.

The air movement apparatus 22, such as a fan by way of example only, isconnected at the top of the cooling housing 14 and when activatedgenerates a flow of air through the cooling chamber 17 from the one ormore air inputs 23 through the cooling chamber 17 and out the air output25, although other types and/or numbers of air movement apparatuses inother locations could be used. The air movement apparatus 22 may have acontroller comprising a processor, a memory, a communication interfacewhich are coupled together by a bus or other communication link,although other types and/or numbers of other systems, device,components, and/or other elements in other configurations could be usedand/or other approaches for managing the operation of the sprayer pump36 may be used. The controller in the air movement apparatus 22 may becoupled to receive, respond to and/or execute instructions from theevaporative cooler management computing device 60 to manage theengagement of and rate air flow from the one or more air inputs 23through the cooling chamber 17 and out the air output 25, although theoperation of the air movement apparatus 22 may be managed in othermanners, such as manually by way of example only and may be configuredto perform other types and/or numbers of other operations.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the optional compressor chiller 24 has afirst compressor chiller input coupled to an output of the fluid coil16(1), a second compressor chiller input coupled to an output of thefluid coil 16(2), a first compressor chiller output coupled to the inputof the fluid coil 16(1), and a second compressor chiller outputconfigured to be coupled to the fluid supply to the one or more airhandler device 32. The compressor chiller 24 is a physical compressor 50that compresses a refrigerant fluid to allow it to create cold in anevaporator 52, the heat removed from the cooling fluid, such as water byway of example, into the refrigerant fluid is transferred back into thecooling fluid returning back to the input of the fluid coil 16(1) viathe condenser 54. During warmer weather, such as a temperature above awet bulb of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit or an ambient temperature ofabout 80 degrees, the compressor 50 in the compressor chiller 24 mountedbelow or next to the cooling housing 14 may be engaged to remove apercentage of the cooling fluid from the output of the fluid coil 16(2),uses compressed refrigerant fluid to cool some of that cooling fluid inorder to cool a percentage of that cooling fluid, and then combines itwith the other cooling fluid from the output of the fluid coli 16(2) forreturn to the heat exchange device 28 in air handler 32 so as toeffectively deliver the desired temperature of return cooling fluid.Meanwhile, the heat removed by the refrigerant fluid is moved into theremaining cooling fluid taken and, as noted above, is routed back to theinput to the fluid coil 16(1) of the cooling housing 14 to combine withthe heated cooling fluid coming back from the air handler 32 for heatrejection.

The optional compressor chiller 24 may have a controller comprising aprocessor, a memory, a communication interface which are coupledtogether by a bus or other communication link, although other typesand/or numbers of other systems, device, components, and/or otherelements in other configurations could be used and/or other approachesfor managing the operation of the optional compressor chiller 24 may beused. The controller in the optional compressor chiller 24 may becoupled to receive, respond to and/or execute instructions from theevaporative cooler management computing device 60 to manage theengagement of and rate of operation of the optional compressor chiller24, although the operation of the optional compressor chiller 24 may bemanaged in other manners, such as manually by way of example only andmay be configured to perform other types and/or numbers of otheroperations.

A first coil diverter valve apparatus 38(1) may be adjusted to divertthe flow of the cooling fluid and has a first coil diverter valve inputcoupled to an output of the fluid coil 16(1), a first coil divertervalve output coupled to an input to the fluid coil 16(2), and a secondcoil diverter valve output coupled to an input to the optionalcompressor chiller 24, although other manners for diverting the flow ofthe cooling fluid can be used. A second coil diverter valve apparatusvalve 38(2) has a first second coil diverter valve input coupled to theoutput of the fluid coil 16(2), a first coil diverter valve outputcoupled to an input of the optional compressor chiller 24, and a secondcoil diverter valve output configured to be coupled to the fluid supplyto the air handler device 32. In this example, first coil diverter valveapparatus 38(1) and the second coil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(2)are uniquely positioned inside this example of the design to allow thecompressor chiller 24 to operate at a much lower lift than possible withprior designs therefore lowering kw\ton even in extreme atmosphereconditions.

Each of the first coil diverter valve apparatus 38(1) and the secondcoil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(2) may have a controllercomprising a processor, a memory, a communication interface which arecoupled together by a bus or other communication link, although othertypes and /or numbers of other systems, device, components, and/or otherelements in other configurations could be used and/or other approachesfor managing the operation of the first coil diverter valve apparatus38(1) and the second coil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(2) may beused. Each of the controllers in the first coil diverter valve apparatus38(1) and the second coil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(2) may becoupled to receive, respond to and/or execute instructions from theevaporative cooler management computing device 60 to move the first coildiverter valve apparatus 38(1) and the second coil diverter valveapparatus valve 38(2) between open and closed positions using one ormore electromechanical control devices to control an amount of thecooling fluid which is diverted, although the operation of the firstcoil diverter valve apparatus 38(1) and/or the second coil divertervalve apparatus valve 38(2) may be managed in other manners, such asmanually by way of example only, and may be configured perform othertypes and/or numbers of operations

The evaporative cooler management computing device 60 includes aprocessor 62, a memory 64, and a communication interface 66 which arecoupled together by a bus 68 or other communication link, although theevaporative cooler management computing device 60 may include othertypes and/or numbers of elements in other configurations.

The processor 62 of the evaporative cooler management computing device60 may execute one or more computer-executable instructions stored inthe memory 64 for the methods illustrated and described with referenceto the examples herein, although the processor can execute other typesand/or numbers of programmed instructions and may be configured to becapable of performing other types and/or numbers of operations. Theprocessor 60 in the evaporative cooler management computing device 60may comprise one or more central processing units (“CPUs”) or generalpurpose processors with one or more processing cores, although othertypes of processor(s) could be used.

The memory 64 of the evaporative cooler management computing device 60stores these programmed instructions for one or more aspects of thepresent technology as described and illustrated by way of the examplesherein, although some or all of the programmed instructions could bestored and executed elsewhere. A variety of different types of memorystorage devices, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory(ROM), hard disk drives, solid state drives, or other computer readablemedia which is read from and written to by a magnetic, optical, or otherreading and writing system that is coupled to the processor 62, can beused for the memory 64.

The communication interface 66 operatively couples and communicatesbetween the evaporative cooler management computing device 60 and acontroller for each of the air movement apparatus 22, the compressorchiller 24, the controllable vents 26, the refrigerant pump 34, thefluid pump 35, and the coil diverter valve apparatuses 38(1) and 38(2)which are all coupled together by one or more communication networks,although other types and/or numbers of communication networks or systemswith other types and numbers of connections and configurations to otherdevices and elements. By way of example only, the one or morecommunication networks can use TCP/IP over Ethernet andindustry-standard protocols, including NFS, CIFS, SOAP, XML, LDAP, andSNMP, although other types and numbers of communication networks, can beused.

In this example, an air handler 32 with one or more heat exchangers 28may have an optional dampening device 70 coupled to an input from acooling loop with a heat source 40, such as a building by way of exampleonly, and another cooling loop with the evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(1), although the evaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(1)could be coupled to other types and/or numbers of other systems in othermanners. If the air handler 28 has more than one heat exchanger, theheat exchanger 28 adjacent the input to the air handler 28 may use arefrigerant fluid with a different boiling point than another heatexchanger 28 near an output from the air handler 28. The optionaldampening device 70 may have a controller comprising a processor, amemory, a communication interface which are coupled together by a bus orother communication link, although other types and/or numbers of othersystems, device, components, and/or other elements in otherconfigurations could be used and/or other approaches for managing theoperation of the dampening device 70 may be used. The controller in theoptional dampening device 70 may be coupled to receive, respond toand/or execute instructions from the evaporative cooler managementcomputing device 60 to manage and optimize operation of the dampeningdevice 70, although the operation of the optional compressor chiller 24may be managed in other manners, such as manually by way of example onlyand may be configured to perform other types and/or numbers of otheroperations. The air handler 28 may also have the refrigerant system 30in the return air flow from the heat source 40, although the air handlermay have other types and/or numbers of other systems, devices,components and/or other elements in other configurations.

The evaporative cooler management computing device 60 may be coupled tosend, respond to and/or execute one or more programmed instructions formanaging the operation of one or more of the controllers for the airmovement apparatus 22, the optional compressor chiller 24, thecontrollable vents or louvers 26, the refrigerant pump 34, the fluidpump 35, the sprayer pump 36, and the first coil diverter valveapparatus 38(1) and the second coil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(2)to react to the changing environment and changing load requirements ofthe heat source 40, such as a building by way of example only, and thesecontrols may be based on input data and/or based on one or morecharacteristics, such as current outside temperature or current fluidtemperature by way of example only. As the outdoor temperatureincreases, the evaporative cooler management computing device 60 mayhave programmed instructions to automatically increase fan speed of theair movement apparatus 22, then to start the sprayer pump 36, and thenadjust the rate of cooling fluid to the compressor chiller 24 and engagethe operation of the compressor chiller 24 in small increments, and onlyto the point necessary to achieve the desired exiting cooling fluidtemperature. The evaporative cooler management computing device 60 mayalso have programmed instructions to adjust the opening of thecontrollable vents or louvers 26, the engagement of and rate ofrefrigerant pumped by the refrigerant pump 34, and/or the rate ofcooling fluid being pumped fluid pump 35 to achieve the desired exitingcooling fluid temperature. Since the evaporative cooler managementcomputing device 60 may be located in the same unit as the fluid coils16(1)-16(2) and/or and the chiller compressor 24 which may be in oroutside the cooling chamber 17, it will instantly react to changesduring the day, may have programmed instructions and prior storedoperation data to predict the needs in the near future and adapt to eachvariable as they change to operate the unit in the most efficient waypossible.

Although the exemplary environment 10 with evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(1) which has the evaporative cooler management computingdevice 60 and the controllers for the air movement apparatus 22, theoptional compressor chiller 24, the controllable vents or louvers 26,the refrigerant pump 34, the fluid pump 35, the sprayer pump 36, and thefirst coil diverter valve apparatus 38(1) and the second coil divertervalve apparatus valve 38(2) are described and illustrated herein, othertypes and numbers of systems, devices, components, and/or elements inother topologies can be used. It is to be understood that the systems ofthe examples described herein are for exemplary purposes, as manyvariations of the specific hardware and software used to implement theexamples are possible, as will be appreciated by those skilled in therelevant art(s).

In addition, two or more computing systems or devices can be substitutedfor any one of the systems or devices in any example. Accordingly,principles and advantages of distributed processing, such as redundancyand replication also can be implemented, as desired, to increase therobustness and performance of the devices and systems of the examples.The examples may also be implemented on computer system(s) that extendacross any suitable network using any suitable interface mechanisms andtraffic technologies, including by way of example only teletraffic inany suitable form (e.g., voice and modem), wireless traffic media,wireless traffic networks, cellular traffic networks, G3 trafficnetworks, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), Packet DataNetworks (PDNs), the Internet, intranets, and combinations thereof.

The examples may also be embodied as one or more non-transitory computerreadable media having instructions stored thereon for one or moreaspects of the present technology as described and illustrated by way ofthe examples herein, as described herein, which when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to carry out the steps necessary toimplement the methods of the examples, as described and illustratedherein.

An example of a method for using an evaporative cooler apparatus 12(1)will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-4. In this particularexample, the optional dampening device 70 may be adjusted by theevaporative cooler management computing device 60 based on at least onecharacteristic, such as outside air temperature by way of example only,to provide the appropriate mix of outside air with returning air fromthe heat source 40, such as a building by way of example only, to theair handler 28, although other manner for managing the air supplied tothe air handler 28 can be used. Meanwhile, cooling fluid in the heatexchanger 28 in the air handler 32 is continuously managed by theevaporative cooler apparatus 12(1) to ensure maximum heat absorption atexit from the heat exchanger 28 back to the heat source 40.

To manage this cooling fluid, a fluid pump 35 in the evaporative coolerapparatus 12(1) when activated and the rate of operation is controlledby the evaporative cooler management computing device 60 based on atleast one characteristic, such as desired temperature by way of exampleonly, pumps the cooling fluid in the pipes through the fluid coil 16(1)adjacent the air output 25 in the cooling chamber 17 and then throughthe fluid coil 16(2) adjacent the one or more air inputs 23 in thecooling chamber 17, although other types and/or numbers of fluidmovement devices in other locations may be used. Accordingly asdiscussed earlier, this configuration to receive fluid in the fluid coil16(1) adjacent the air output 25 of the cooling housing 14 and then tofurther cool and return fluid to the fluid coil 16(2) adjacent the airinput 23 of the cooling housing 14 is in an inverse with respect to theabsorption of heat from the fluid in the fluid coils 16(1)-16(2) in thecooling housing 14 based on a direction of air flow from the one or moreair inputs 23 to the air output 25. As a result, with this configurationheated fluid from the air handler 32 may now be transported to the fluidcoils 16(1)-16(2) in the evaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(1) atlower volumes than possible with prior designs because the heated fluidcarries more heat energy per unit volume.

In this particular example, when activated, cooling fluid, such ascooling fluid having a flow rate of 100 GPM and a temperature of 88degrees in this example, containing heat from the heat exchangers 28 airhandler 32 is received. This cooling fluid may be combined with heatedcooling fluid from the optional compressor chiller 24, when activatedand managed by the evaporative cooler management computing device 60based on at least one characteristic, such as fluid temperature by wayof example only, via one of the outputs from the second coil divertervalve apparatus valve 38(2) also activated and managed by theevaporative cooler management computing device 60, to provide in thisexample cooling fluid having a flow rate of 133 GPM at a temperature of94 degrees to an input of the fluid coil 16(1). This cooling fluidhaving a flow rate of 133 GPM at a temperature of 94 degrees enters thefluid coil 16(1) in the cooling chamber 17 adjacent the air output 25and transfers as much heat energy in the cooling fluid as possible tothe atmosphere and then exits as cooling fluid having a flow rate of 133GPM at a temperature of 84 degrees in this example via an output fromthe fluid coil 16(1). Accordingly, in this example through reheatingcooled air coming up the cooling chamber 17 from the fluid coil 16(2),the cooling fluid in fluid coil 16(1) is precooled for the fluid coil16(2).

In this example, this cooling fluid descends to an input of the firstcoil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(1) activated and managed by theevaporative cooler management computing device 60 and which has a firstoutput to divert an adjustable portion of the cooling fluid, in thisexample cooling fluid having a flow rate of 100 GPM at a temperature of84 degrees, to an input of the fluid coil 16(2) adjacent air inputs 23in the cooling chamber 17 and a second output to divert an adjustableportion of the cooling fluid, in this example cooling fluid having aflow rate of 33 GPM at a temperature of 84 degrees, to the optionalcompressor chiller 24. In this example, until a wet bulb of about 60degrees Fahrenheit or an ambient temperature of about 80 degrees isreached, the first coil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(1) would notdivert any cooling fluid to the compressor chiller 24, although thediversion of cooling fluid to the compressor chiller 24 by the firstcoil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(1) can be at other storedtemperatures.

The precooled cooling fluid enters the fluid coil 16(2) which transfersas much heat energy as possible in the cooling fluid to the atmospherein the cooling chamber 17. Spray water from the sprayer apparatus 20 ata rate adjusted and managed by the evaporative cooler managementcomputing device 60 assists with this heat transfer throughvaporization. The cooling fluid then exits the fluid coil 16(2) in thisexample as cooling fluid having a flow rate of at 100 GPM at atemperature of 74 degrees, via an output from the fluid coil 16(2) to aninput of the second coil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(2). Theoperation of how much if any cooling fluid is diverted by the secondcoil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(2) is managed by the evaporativecooler management computing device 60 based on at least onecharacteristic, such as one or more temperature readings by way ofexample only. Again, in this example until a wet bulb of about 60degrees Fahrenheit or an ambient temperature of about 80 degrees isreached, the second coil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(1) would notdivert any cooling fluid to the compressor chiller 24, although thediversion of cooling fluid to the compressor chiller 24 by the firstcoil diverter valve apparatus valve 38(1) can be at other storedtemperatures. In this particular example, the second coil diverter valveapparatus valve 38(2) has a first output that is configured to providecooling fluid having a flow rate of 67 GPM at a temperature of 74degrees is diverted to the piping towards the heat exchanger 28 and asecond output is coupled to provide another adjustable portion of thiscooling fluid, in this particular example cooling fluid having a flowrate of 33 GPM at a temperature of 74 degrees to the compressor chiller24.

Accordingly, in this example as described above when the heated coolingfluid enters the fluid coil 16(1) adjacent the air output 25 of thecooling housing 14, the heated cooling fluid in the fluid coil 16(1)will be exposed to cool wet air that has already been cooled andsupersaturated by the second coil 16(2) adjacent the air inputs 23 andthrough evaporative cooling of spray water from the sprayer apparatus 20at a rate adjusted and managed by the evaporative cooler managementcomputing device 60 to nearly the wet bulb temperature in theatmosphere. When the cool wet air hits the fluid coil 16(1) byactivation and management of the rate of operation of the air movementdevice 22 by the evaporative cooler management computing device 60 basedon at least one characteristic, such as outside air temperature by wayof example only, to provide and manage an air flow rate from the one ormore air inputs 23 to the air output 25, the flowing air in the coolingchamber 17 absorbs heat, and by the time it exits the cooling housing 14at the air output 25, it is at or warm enough that it has more thanenough space for the water it has absorbed and also eliminates plumes.By the time the cooling fluid in the fluid coil 16(1) enters the fluidcoil 16(2), less cooling is required to reach nearly the wet bulbtemperature. As a result, this example of the technology essentiallyprovides free cooling all the way up to a wet bulb of about 60 degreesFahrenheit or an ambient temperature of about 80 degrees without needingto engage the compressor chiller 24 and also provides other benefits,such as substantial savings in energy, a high delta T and a low requiredflow rate for the fluid from the air handler 32 by way of example. Theoptional vents or louvers 26 may also be activated and managed by theevaporative cooler management computing device 60 based on at least onecharacteristic, such as outside air temperature by way of example only,to be adjusted to different open positions to provide additional airflow into the cooling chamber 17

In this example, above the temperatures noted above, the optionalcompressor chiller 24 may be activated and managed by the evaporativecooler management computing device 60 to cool an adjustable portion ofthe received cooling fluid based on at least one characteristic, such asfluid temperature by way of example only. In particular, in this examplecooling fluid having a flow rate of 33 GPM at a temperature of 62degrees, and which is then combined with the cooling fluid having a flowrate of 67 GPM at a temperature of 74 degrees. This cooling fluid havinga flow rate of 100 GPM at a temperature of 70 degrees is then providedto the supply to the air handler 32. Additionally, the other adjustableportion of the received cooling fluid, in this particular examplecooling fluid having a flow rate of 33 GPM at a temperature of 96degrees, which is being used to transfer the extracted heat from theother cooling fluid in the compressor chiller 24 just described above,is provided back to the input to the fluid coil 16(1) as describedearlier.

Additionally, the evaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(1) may haverefrigerant fluid that enters an input of the optional refrigerant coil18 when a refrigerant pump 34 is activated and managed by theevaporative cooler management computing device 60 and transfers as muchheat energy in the refrigerant fluid as possible to the atmosphere andthen exits via an output to refrigerant system 30 integrated with theair handler 32 in the building 40 to complete the loop.

Referring to FIG. 5, an example of another evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(2) is illustrated. The evaporative fluid cooling apparatus12(2) is the same in structure and operation as the evaporative fluidcooling apparatus 12(1), except as illustrated and described herein.Elements in the evaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(2) which are likethose in evaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(1) have like referencenumerals.

In this example, the housing 14 in the evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(2) includes a moveable barrier 100 which may be adjustablypositioned in the housing 14 to divide a portion of the cooling chamber17 into two separate regions which permit air flow between the air input23 and the air output 25, although the cooling chamber 17 can be dividedin other manners and other proportions. The fluid coil 16(1) in theevaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(2) comprises two separate fluidcoils 16(1 a) and 16(1 b) which are coupled in series with each of thefluid 16(1 a) and 16(1 b) positioned to extend across at least a portionof one of the regions in the cooling chamber 17, although the fluid coil16(1) may comprises other numbers of fluid coils in otherconfigurations. The air movement device 22 comprises two separate airmovement device 22(a) and 22(b) which are each positioned adjacent theair output 25 in one of the regions in the cooling chamber 17, althoughthe air movement device 22 may comprises other numbers of air movementdevices in other configurations and locations. The two separate airmovement device 22(a) and 22(b) may each be controlled separately by theevaporative cooler computing device 60 to generate a flow of air throughthe cooling chamber 17 from the one or more air inputs 23 through thecooling chamber 17 and out the air output 25, although the air movementdevice 22(a) and 22(b) may each be controlled in other manners. One ofthe controllable vents or louvers 26 is positioned in the housing 14 toprovide controlled access to one of the regions in the cooling chamber17, although other types and/or numbers of controllable vents or louvrescould be used. The sprayer apparatus 20 in the evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(2) may be controlled by the evaporative cooler computingdevice 60 based on at least one characteristic, such as outside airtemperature by way of example only, to spray in only one of the regionsin the cooling chamber 17 on the outlet side to supply the cooled fluidback to heat exchanger 28 in the air handler 32, although the sprayerapparatus 20 could be configured to spray in the regions in the coolingchamber 17 in other manners and/or patterns.

As noted earlier, the operation of the evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(2) is the same as described earlier with reference to theevaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(1), except in this exampleseparate top coils, a center divider and separate exhaust fans allow formore precise control over the cooling operation. As a result, thisadvantageously provides substantial water savings as it will requireless water to achieve the same cooling, as well as reasonable other costsavings.

Referring to FIG. 6 an example of another evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(3) is illustrated. The evaporative fluid cooling apparatus12(3) is the same in structure and operation as the evaporative fluidcooling apparatuses 12(1) and 12(2), except as illustrated and describedherein. Elements in the evaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(3) whichare like those in evaporative fluid cooling apparatuses 12(1) and 12(2)have like reference numerals.

In this example, the housing 14 in the evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(3) includes a moveable barrier 100 which may be adjustablypositioned in the housing 14 to divide the cooling chamber 17 into twoseparate regions and which permit air flow between the air input 23 andthe air output 25, although the cooling chamber 17 can be divided inother manners and other proportions. The fluid coil 16(1) in theevaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(3) comprises two separate fluidcoils 16(1 a) and 16(1 b) which are coupled in series with each of thefluid 16(1 a) and 16(1 b) positioned to extend across at least a portionof one of the regions in the cooling chamber 17, although the fluid coil16(1) may comprises other numbers of fluid coils in otherconfigurations. The fluid coil 16(2) in the evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(3) comprises two separate fluid coils 16(2 a) and 16(2 b)which are coupled in series with each of the fluid 16(2 a) and 16(2 b)positioned to extend across at least a portion of one of the regions inthe cooling chamber 17, although the fluid coil 16(2) may comprisesother numbers of fluid coils in other configurations. In this example,the output from the fluid coil 16(1 b) is coupled to the input of fluidcoil (2 a) so that fluid coils 16(1 a), 16(1 b), 16(2 a), and 16(2 b)are coupled in series and in this example form a “Z” shape The airmovement device 22 comprises two separate air movement device 22(a) and22(b) which are each positioned adjacent the air output 25 in one of theregions in the cooling chamber 17, although the air movement device 22may comprises other numbers of air movement devices in otherconfigurations and locations. The two separate air movement device 22(a)and 22(b) may each be controlled separately by the evaporative coolercomputing device 60 based on at least one characteristic, such asoutside air temperature by way of example only, to generate a flow ofair through the cooling chamber 17 from the one or more air inputs 23through the cooling chamber 17 and out the air output 25, although theair movement devices 22(a) and 22(b) may each be controlled in othermanners. One of the controllable vents or louvers 26 is positioned inthe housing 14 to provide controlled access to one of the regions in thecooling chamber 17, although other types and/or numbers of controllablevents or louvres could be used. The sprayer apparatus 20 in theevaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(2) may be controlled by theevaporative cooler computing device 60 based on at least onecharacteristic, such as outside air temperature by way of example only,to spray in only one of the regions in the cooling chamber 17 on theoutlet side to supply the cooled fluid back to heat exchanger 28 in theair handler 32, although the sprayer apparatus 20 could be configured tospray in the regions in the cooling chamber 17 in other manners and/orpatterns.

As noted earlier, the operation of the evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(3) is the same as described earlier with reference to theevaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(1), except in this exampleseparate top and bottom coils, a center divider and separate exhaustfans allow for even more precise control over the cooling operation thanin previous examples. In 12(3) the separation into two separate airflowsides allows warmer air to move on the left in the example (the rightside top fluid coil 16(1 b)feeds fluid to the left side bottom fluidcoil 16(2 a) so the warmer top and bottom fluid coils 16(1 a) and 16(2a) are on the left, cooler fluid coils 16(1 b) and 16(2 b) on the right,creating a “Z” type arrangement of fluid movement) and cooler air on theright, at air flow generated by air movement devices 22(a) and 22(b) andsprayer rates provided by the sprayer apparatus 20 which are eachindividually managed and controlled by the evaporative cooler managementcomputing device 60 to maximize efficiency, allowing very precisecontrol over the operation of the tower. As a result, thisadvantageously provides even greater water savings with evaporativefluid cooling apparatus 12(3) than with evaporative fluid coolingapparatus 12(2) example, providing substantial water savings overstandard designs, while further reducing other costs, all in savingsshould well exceed 5% over the evaporative fluid cooling apparatus 12(3)in many environments.

Accordingly, as illustrated and described by way of reference to theexamples herein, this technology provides more effective and efficientevaporative fluid cooling apparatuses and methods. This technology slowsthe GPM, thus allowing for substantially more time for heat to beabsorbed. With lower GPM, the power used by the pumps decreases almostgeometrically and the wear on the pumps decreases substantially.Additionally, with lower GPM much warmer water is sent to theevaporative fluid cooling apparatus which means more will be releasedinto the atmosphere on the same amount of metal (cooling surface) sinceit is both hotter and moving more slowly to allow more ‘time on metal’or time for the metal to be able to transfer the heat to the air. Sincethe metal is warmer from the warmer water, everything is more efficientdue to the higher temperature differential to the atmosphere andoperates the chiller in a much more favorable delta, thus the chiller isoperating at a lower effective tonnage due to the more efficient heattransfer to the atmosphere noted above.

Having thus described the basic concept of this technology, it will berather apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detaileddisclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and isnot limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications willoccur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expresslystated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications areintended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and scope ofthis technology. Additionally, the recited order of processing elementsor sequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designationstherefore, is not intended to limit the claimed processes to any orderexcept as may be specified in the claims. Accordingly, this technologyis limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. An evaporative fluid cooling apparatuscomprising: a cooling housing that defines a cooling chamber with an airhousing input and an air housing output; at least two fluid coilspositioned in and extending across at least a portion of the coolingchamber in a spaced apart stacked arrangement, one of the fluid coilspositioned closer to the air housing output having a first fluid inputconfigured to be coupled to a fluid return from one or more air handlerdevices and a first fluid output coupled to a second fluid input to theother one of the fluid coils that is positioned closer to the airhousing input with the other one of the fluid coils having a secondfluid output configured to be coupled to a fluid supply to the one ormore air handler devices; an air movement apparatus positioned toprovide air flow from the air housing input through the cooling chamberand out the air housing output when activated; and one or more sprayapparatuses positioned and configured to spray a fluid on at least oneof the at least two fluid coils when activated.
 2. The apparatus as setforth in claim 1 further comprising: a compressor chiller having a firstcompressor chiller output coupled to the first fluid input of the one ofthe fluid coils and a second compressor chiller output configured to becoupled to the fluid supply to the one or more air handler devices; atleast one temperature monitoring device that is configured to monitor atemperature of a fluid at the second fluid output of the other one ofthe fluid coils; a first coil diverter valve apparatus having an inputcoupled to the first fluid output of the one of the fluid coils, oneoutput coupled to the second fluid input to the other one of the fluidcoils, and another output coupled to a first compressor chiller input ofthe compressor chiller; and a second coil diverter valve apparatushaving an input coupled to the first fluid output of the other one ofthe fluid coils, one output configured to be coupled to the fluid supplyto the one or more air handler device, and another output coupled to asecond compressor chiller input of the compressor chiller.
 3. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising: an evaporativecooler management computing device coupled to at least the temperaturemonitoring device and the compressor chiller: wherein the evaporativecooler management computing device comprises a memory coupled to atleast one processor which is configured to be capable of executingprogrammed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to:determine when a monitored temperature of the fluid at the second fluidoutput of the other one of the fluid coils exceeds a first storedthreshold temperature; and engage the compressor chiller to provideadditional cooling of at least a portion of the fluid at the secondfluid output of the other one of the fluid coils when the monitoredtemperature is determined to exceed the first stored thresholdtemperature.
 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the firststored threshold temperature comprises a wet bulb temperature of atleast 60 degrees or an ambient temperature of at least 80 degrees. 5.The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the evaporative coolermanagement computing device is further coupled to at least the firstcoil diverter valve apparatus and the second coil diverter valveapparatus and wherein the processor is configured to be capable ofexecuting one or more additional programmed instructions comprising andstored in the memory to: engage the first coil diverter valve apparatusto divert at least a portion of the fluid at the another output to thecompressor chiller when the monitored temperature is determined toexceed the first stored threshold temperature; and engage the secondcoil diverter valve apparatus to divert at least a portion of the fluidat the second fluid output of the other one of the fluid coils to thecompressor chiller when the monitored temperature is determined toexceed the first stored threshold temperature.
 6. The apparatus as setforth in claim 5 wherein the processor is further configured to becapable of executing one or more additional programmed instructions forthe instruction to engage the compressor chiller to provide additionalcooling that comprise and are stored in the memory to: determine anamount the monitored temperature exceeds a first stored thresholdtemperature; and adjust the engagement of one or more of the compressorchiller, the first coil diverter valve apparatus, and the first coildiverter valve apparatus based on the determined amount the monitoredtemperature exceeds the first stored threshold temperature.
 7. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising: at least onerefrigerant coil positioned in and extending across at least a portionof the cooling chamber, the at least one refrigerant coil having a firstrefrigerant fluid input configured to be coupled to a fluid return froma refrigerant system and a first refrigerant fluid output configured tobe coupled to a fluid supply to the refrigerant system; and at least onerefrigerant pump configured and coupled to pump refrigerant through theat least one refrigerant coil; wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to be capable of executing one or more additional programmedinstructions that comprise and are stored in the memory to: determinewhen the monitored temperature of the fluid at the second fluid outputof the other one of the fluid coils exceeds a second stored thresholdtemperature; and engage the at least one refrigerant pump to pumprefrigerant through the at least one refrigerant coil when the monitoredtemperature is determined to exceed the second stored thresholdtemperature.
 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the atleast one refrigerant pump further comprises a frictionless pump.
 9. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the one or more sprayapparatuses further comprise: a collection device positioned to capturethe fluid sprayed by the one or more spray apparatuses; and arecirculation device configured to supply the fluid in the collectiondevice to the one or more spray apparatuses.
 10. The apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein the cooling housing further comprises: one ormore controllable vents positioned at least between the at least twofluid coils; and wherein the processor is further configured to becapable of executing one or more additional programmed instructions thatcomprise and are stored in the memory to: determine when a monitoredtemperature of the fluid at the second fluid output of the other one ofthe fluid coils exceeds a third stored threshold temperature; and engageone or more of the controllable vents to move to at least a partiallyopen position to provide additional air flow into the cooling chamberwhen the monitored temperature is determined to exceed the third storedthreshold temperature.
 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 furthercomprising an adjustable barrier positioned in the cooling housing thatdivides at least a portion of the cooling chamber into at least tworegions; wherein at least one of the fluid coils further comprises atleast two separate fluid coils coupled in series, each of the at leasttwo separate fluid coils positioned in and extending across at least aportion of one of the regions in the cooling chamber, one of the atleast two separate fluid coils has a first fluid input configured to becoupled to a fluid return from the one or more air handler devices andthe other one of the at least two separate fluid coils has a first fluidoutput coupled to a second fluid input to the other one of the fluidcoils; and wherein the air movement apparatus further comprises at leasttwo separate air movement apparatuses each positioned in one of theregions in the cooling chamber to provide air flow from the air housinginput through the cooling chamber and out the air housing output whenactivated.
 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further comprisingan evaporative cooler management computing device that comprises amemory coupled to at least one processor which is configured to becapable of executing programmed instructions comprising and stored inthe memory to: control activation and a rate of operation of the atleast two separate air movement apparatuses and of the one or more sprayapparatuses based on at least one characteristic.
 13. The apparatus asset forth in claim 11 wherein the at least the other one of the fluidcoils further comprises at least two additional separate fluid coilscoupled in series, each of the at least two additional separate fluidcoils positioned in and extending across at least a portion of one ofthe regions in the cooling chamber, one of the at least additional twoseparate fluid coils has a second fluid input coupled to the first fluidoutput of the other one of the at least two separate fluid coils and asecond fluid output configured to be coupled to a fluid supply to theone or more air handler devices.
 14. A method for making an evaporativefluid cooling apparatus, the method comprising: providing a coolinghousing that defines a cooling chamber with an air housing input and anair housing output; positioning at least two fluid coils to extendacross at least a portion of the cooling chamber in a spaced apartstacked arrangement, one of the fluid coils positioned closer to the airhousing output having a first fluid input configured to be coupled to afluid return from one or more air handler devices and a first fluidoutput coupled to a second fluid input to the other one of the fluidcoils that is positioned closer to the air housing input with the otherone of the fluid coils having a second fluid output configured to becoupled to a fluid supply to the one or more air handler devices;positioning an air movement apparatus to provide air flow from the airhousing input through the cooling chamber and out the air housing outputwhen activated; and positioning one or more spray apparatuses configuredto spray a fluid on at least one of the at least two fluid coils whenactivated.
 15. The method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising:providing a compressor chiller having a first compressor chiller outputcoupled to the first fluid input of the one of the fluid coils and asecond compressor chiller output configured to be coupled to the fluidsupply to the one or more air handler devices; providing at least onetemperature monitoring device that is configured to monitor atemperature of a fluid at the second fluid output of the other one ofthe fluid coils; providing a first coil diverter valve apparatus havingan input coupled to the first fluid output of the one of the fluidcoils, one output coupled to the second fluid input to the other one ofthe fluid coils, and another output coupled to a first compressorchiller input of the compressor chiller; and providing a second coildiverter valve apparatus having an input coupled to the first fluidoutput of the other one of the fluid coils, one output configured to becoupled to the fluid supply to the one or more air handler device, andanother output coupled to a second compressor chiller input of thecompressor chiller.
 16. The method as set forth in claim 15 furthercomprising: coupling an evaporative cooler management computing deviceto at least the temperature monitoring device and the compressorchiller; wherein the evaporative cooler management computing devicecomprises a memory coupled to at least one processor which is configuredto be capable of executing programmed instructions comprising and storedin the memory to: determine when a monitored temperature of the fluid atthe second fluid output of the other one of the fluid coils exceeds afirst stored threshold temperature; and engage the compressor chiller toprovide additional cooling of at least a portion of the fluid at thesecond fluid output of the other one of the fluid coils when themonitored temperature is determined to exceed the first stored thresholdtemperature.
 17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the firststored threshold temperature comprises a wet bulb temperature of atleast 60 degrees or an ambient temperature of at least 80 degrees. 18.The method as set forth in claim 16 further comprising: coupling theevaporative cooler management computing device to at least the firstcoil diverter valve apparatus and the second coil diverter valveapparatus; wherein the processor is configured to be capable ofexecuting one or more additional programmed instructions comprising andstored in the memory to: engage the first coil diverter valve apparatusto divert at least a portion of the fluid at the another output to thecompressor chiller when the monitored temperature is determined toexceed the first stored threshold temperature; and engage the secondcoil diverter valve apparatus to divert at least a portion of the fluidat the second fluid output of the other one of the fluid coils to thecompressor chiller when the monitored temperature is determined toexceed the first stored threshold temperature.
 19. The method as setforth in claim 18 wherein the processor is further configured to becapable of executing one or more additional programmed instructions forthe instruction to engage the compressor chiller to provide additionalcooling that comprise and are stored in the memory to: determine anamount the monitored temperature exceeds a first stored thresholdtemperature; and adjust the engagement of one or more of the compressorchiller, the first coil diverter valve apparatus, and the first coildiverter valve apparatus based on the determined amount the monitoredtemperature exceeds the first stored threshold temperature.
 20. Themethod as set forth in claim 18 further comprising: positioning at leastone refrigerant coil to extend across at least a portion of the coolingchamber, the at least one refrigerant coil having a first refrigerantfluid input configured to be coupled to a fluid return from arefrigerant system and a first refrigerant fluid output configured to becoupled to a fluid supply to the refrigerant system; coupling at leastone refrigerant pump to the at least one refrigerant coil, the at leastone refrigerant pump configured to pump refrigerant through the at leastone refrigerant coil when engaged; wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to be capable of executing one or more additional programmedinstructions that comprise and are stored in the memory to: determinewhen the monitored temperature of the fluid at the second fluid outputof the other one of the fluid coils exceeds a second stored thresholdtemperature; and engage the at least one refrigerant pump to pumprefrigerant through the at least one refrigerant coil when the monitoredtemperature is determined to exceed the second stored thresholdtemperature.
 21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the atleast one refrigerant pump further comprises a frictionless pump. 22.The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the positioning the one ormore spray apparatuses further comprise: positioning a collection deviceto capture the fluid sprayed by the one or more spray devices; andproviding a recirculation device configured to supply the fluid in thecollection device to the one or more spray apparatuses.
 23. The methodas set forth in claim 14 wherein the providing the cooling housingfurther comprises: positioning one or more controllable vents adjacentat least between the at least two fluid coils; and wherein the processoris further configured to be capable of executing one or more additionalprogrammed instructions that comprise and are stored in the memory to:determine when a monitored temperature of the fluid at the second fluidoutput of the other one of the fluid coils exceeds a third storedthreshold temperature; and engage one or more of the controllable ventsto move to at least a partially open position to provide additional airflow into the cooling chamber when the monitored temperature isdetermined to exceed the third stored threshold temperature.
 24. Themethod as set forth in claim 14 further comprising positioning anadjustable barrier in the cooling housing that divides at least aportion of the cooling chamber into at least two regions; wherein atleast one of the fluid coils further comprises at least two separatefluid coils coupled in series, each of the at least two separate fluidcoils positioned in and extending across at least a portion of one ofthe regions in the cooling chamber, one of the at least two separatefluid coils has a first fluid input configured to be coupled to a fluidreturn from the one or more air handler devices and the other one of theat least two separate fluid coils has a first fluid output coupled to asecond fluid input to the other one of the fluid coils; and wherein theair movement apparatus further comprises at least two separate airmovement apparatuses each positioned in one of the regions in thecooling chamber to provide air flow from the air housing input throughthe cooling chamber and out the air housing output when activated. 25.The method as set forth in claim 24 further comprising providing anevaporative cooler management computing device that comprises a memorycoupled to at least one processor which is configured to be capable ofexecuting programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memoryto: control activation and a rate of operation of the at least twoseparate air movement apparatuses and of the one or more sprayapparatuses based on at least one characteristic.
 26. The method as setforth in claim 23 wherein the at least other one of the fluid coilsfurther comprises at least two additional separate fluid coils coupledin series, each of the at least two additional separate fluid coilspositioned in and extending across at least a portion of one of theregions in the cooling chamber, one of the at least additional twoseparate fluid coils has a second fluid input coupled to the first fluidoutput of the other one of the at least two separate fluid coils and asecond fluid output configured to be coupled to a fluid supply to theone or more air handler devices.